BP's Chief Executive Office Bob Dudley has said that the oil major can play an important role as a 'bridge' between Russia and the West to ease tensions amid the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.Addressing shareholders at BP's annual general meeting on Thursday, Dudley said that the company has a "unique position" in Russia, where it is the largest foreign investor in the oil sector, holding around a 20% stake in state-owned Rosneft."We will seek to pursue our business activities mindful that the mutual dependency between Russia as an energy supplier and Europe as an energy consumer has been an important source of security and engagement for both parties for many decades," he said."That has got to continue and I think we play an important role as a bridge."The comments follow Russia's annexation of Crimea last month after a referendum in the region saw an overwhelming majority vote to leave Ukraine.Tensions since then between Moscow and Western leaders have escalated after claims that the Russia's move was unconstitutional and illegal by international law, leading to sanctions being imposed on Russian and Ukrainian officials.The situation has deteriorated in recent days after reports of more conflict along the mainly Russian-speaking eastern order of Ukraine.BP's share price was trading 0.3% higher at 484.55p by 14:14 on Thursday.BC